Saturday’s (23/07/2016) AFL 2016 Round 18 match is between Gold Coast Suns and Fremantle Dockers. The opening bounce is set to commence at 14:10 local time with the game to be played at Metricon Stadium. The away team Fremantle Dockers are the favourite for the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Gold Coast Suns and Fremantle Dockers.

Forward Shane Yarran will complete the transition from jailbird to AFL footballer when he makes his debut for Fremantle in Saturday’s clash with Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium.

Yarran’s dreams of competing at the elite level appeared in tatters when he was sentenced to six years jail for burglary charges earlier in his career.

But he has completed a remarkable rise since being released from prison in March, 2013.

Two standout seasons for WAFL club Subiaco revived Yarran’s AFL hopes, and the Dockers took a punt by selecting him with pick No.61 in the 2015 national draft.

But it has been far from smooth sailing for Yarran since arriving at the Dockers.

Knee and calf injuries grounded the 185cm forward for the first half of the season, and he went into the bad books last month when he was charged with disorderly behaviour and failing to obey police orders during a night out in Leederville.

Yarran copped an $800 fine after pleading guilty to those charges, but coach Ross Lyon says the 27-year-old has since won back the trust of everyone at the club.

“There’s deposits and withdrawals, isn’t there? Obviously it was a slight withdrawal. Clearly it wasn’t ideal,” Lyon said of Yarran’s recent misbehaviour.

“We always support the person and challenge the behaviour. We believe he’s a good person who’s had some challenges.

“He’s building his life and is trying to redeem himself.”

Yarran is a ready-made player for the Dockers after winning the Bernie Naylor medal as the WAFL’s leading goalkicker last season.

But Lyon said it was unfair to expect Yarran to star in AFL ranks from the get-go.